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PENDLETON AND
FORT MERCER RESCUE - FEBRUARY 18TH, 1952

The strong Nor'easter that ravaged the Cape Cod coast
in February 1952 produced a maelstrom for the Coast Guard in New England.
Stricken mariner's sent out SOS's up and down the coast. These calls were
answered by the brave crews of both Coast Guard Cutters and small boat stations
on Cape Cod. Bernie Webber described it as "a day in which few would
remain untouched in one way or another by the events that took place"

The Coast Guard Historian's Office documents the
rescues well, and by clicking on the following links you can read more of the
heroic efforts during that storm.

Official Coast Guard Photo (#12) with
back caption reading, "A general view of the ceremony in the Treasury Building,
Washington, D.C., May 14 at which 21 U.S. Coast Guardsmen were decorated for
their participation in the rescue of 70 men from the tankers FORT MERCER and
PENDLETON, which broke in two during a violent storm off the Coast of Cape Cod,
Mass., February 18, 1952. Five of the men received the Treasury Department
Gold Lifesaving Medal for "extreme and heroic daring;" four received the Silver
Lifesaving Medal for "heroic action;" and 15 were cited for "courage,
initiative, and unswerving devotion to duty," and authorized to wear the Coast
Guard Commendation Ribbon. Three others who were awarded the latter
decoration were unable to be present. The presentations were made by Under
Secretary of the Treasury Edward H. Foley and Vice Admiral Merlin O'Neill, Coast
Guard Commandant.

Station Chatham launched two 36' Motor Lifeboats that
day. The CG 36383 was sent to locate the Fort Mercer. BMC Donald Bangs, EN1
Emory Haynes, BM3 (P) Antonio Ballerini, and SN Richard Ciccone were the crew on board the 36383 that
day. They were diverted later to the bow section of the Pendleton to
attempt a rescue of the personnel there. For their efforts, the crew of
the CG 36383 were awarded the Coast Guard Commendation medal, one of the most
prestigious awards in the Coast Guard.

The CG 36500 was launched when the bow section of the
Pendleton was observed on Radar and the station knew it would not come ashore.
The crew on the 36500 that night was BM1 Bernard Webber, EN2 (P) Andrew
Fitzgerald, SN Richard Livesey, and SN Erwin Maske. The crew of the CG
36500 received Gold Lifesaving Medals for the rescue of 32 people off the stern
section of the Pendleton.
Click here to read the citation.

The Gold Lifesaving Medal was awarded to ENS William R.
Kiely, Jr. for saving 2 crewmembers from the bow section of the Fort Mercer.
Click here to read the citation.